Protein and cDNA structures of an acidic phospholipase A2, the enzymatic part of an unusual, two-component toxin from Vipera palaestinae.

In the venom of Vipera palaestinae an unusual, two-component toxin was found. The two components of the toxin are an acidic phospholipase A2 (VpaPLA2) and a basic protein, both with an apparent molecular mass of about 15 kDa. Each component alone is not toxic; however, their mixture is lethal.